Systems and methods for providing an integrated package and grip for catheter

Abstract

An integrated individual package and an introducer needle or wire for placing a catheter in a patient's vasculature, wherein the package doubles as a grip for placing the catheter. Prior to activation, the catheter is coaxially and slidably disposed over the introducer needle and the catheter and introducer needle assemblies are contained within the integrated package grip. The device is activated as the catheter and introducer needle assemblies are simultaneously transitioned from a closed position to an open position wherein the catheter and introducer needle assemblies are oriented for insertion into a patient's vasculature. Following placement of the catheter in a patient's vasculature, the device is deactivated as the introducer needle is withdrawn and transitioned from the open position to resume the closed position. The package grip comprises a sharps shuttle to protect a clinician from needle stick injuries.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical device, comprising:
 an introducer needle assembly, comprising:
 an introducer needle comprising a proximal end and a distal tip; and 
 a needle hub coupled to the proximal end of the introducer needle; 
 
 a package comprising an internal cavity; and 
 a hinge assembly disposed within the internal cavity of the package, wherein the introducer needle assembly is hingedly coupled to the package at the hinge assembly, wherein the hinge assembly facilitates rotation of the distal tip of the introducer needle from a shielded position within the internal cavity of the package to an insertion position outside the package. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising wing formations, wherein the package further comprises external lateral sides, wherein the wing formations are attached to at least a portion of the lateral sides of the package, wherein the wing formations each have a proximal edge and a distal edge. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 2 , wherein the proximal and distal edges of the wing formations are concave. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 3 , further comprising a sealing label removably attached to the package, wherein the removable sealing label sterilely seals the internal cavity. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4 , wherein the sealing label is removably attached to the needle hub, and wherein removal of the sealing label activates the device by pulling the introducer needle and catheter from the shielded position within the internal cavity to the insertion position. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 5 , wherein the hinge assembly further comprises a biasing mechanism, wherein the integral biasing mechanism restrains the device in one of the shield position or the insertion position. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 6 , wherein the biasing mechanism is comprised of one or more protuberances formed on one of the package and the needle hub and one or more corresponding cavities formed on the other of one of the package and the needle hub. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 7 , further comprising a flange attached to an external perimeter of the package. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 8 , wherein the needle hub is hingedly coupled to the package by the hinge coupling assembly. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 9 , wherein the biasing mechanism is comprised of one or more elliptical axel bosses. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for housing and gripping a catheter, the apparatus comprising:
 a body having lateral sides and defining a cavity having a proximal end and a distal end; 
 a sealing label configured to cover the cavity and removably coupled to the body; 
 wing formations disposed on the lateral sides of the body, wherein the wing formations are adapted to enhance the gripping surface of the body; 
 an introducer needle assembly, comprising:
 an introducer needle comprising a proximal end and a distal tip; and 
 a needle hub coupled to the proximal end of the introducer needle; 
 
 and 
 a catheter coaxially and slidably disposed about the introducer needle, wherein the introducer needle and the catheter are contained within the cavity defined by the body prior to use, wherein the introducer needle assembly is coupled to the body within the cavity, wherein the coupling is located within the distal end of the cavity. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sealing label sterilely seals the cavity defined by the body prior to use. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a flange formed about an external perimeter of the body.